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grok · 06-24-2019, 09:47 PM

To commemorate my first update in two months, and to earn a little money doing a public good, here's a short article dispelling a few of the most persistent myths surrounding STHS, SHL, and goaltenders:

1. Player Size Matters?

Myth: A goalie's height and weight make a difference in their performance--larger goalies get more out of certain stats, or are inherently better than smaller goalies.

Is it true?: No!

Why?: The STHS manual tells us in no uncertain terms that a goalie's height and weight have absolutely no impact on their sim performance. The Size stat is the only thing the sim cares about. In the SHL, size literally doesn't matter--it's how you use it.

2. Balance is key

Myth: Conventional wisdom tells us goalies benefit from a "balanced" approach. A goalie should focus on bringing up all their skills somewhat evenly, even at the cost of getting a single skill up really high.

Is it true?: Somewhat...

Why?: There's no real benefit directly linked to balancing a goalie's stats. Overall doesn't impact goalies in any meaningful way, and the sim isn't "testing" goalies to make sure they can make all types of saves. Rather, a conventional balanced build is an effect of how we add TPE. Because it's cheaper to add TPE to less-developed skills, balanced builds are inevitable. Putting in four points of rebound control will always have a bigger immediate impact that one point of style control. Since goalies have fewer skills and weakness options than skaters it just happens to work out that way, but it doesn't have to be!

3. Goalie builds are all the same

Myth: Goalies all build exactly the same way. It's boring, and we've solved the game. There is a most efficient way to build a goalie in the sim, and everyone just does that.

Is it true?: Yes and No

Explain.: Right now there are a lot of samey builds in the league. Some degree of that will happen simply due to a combination of two things. First, goaltenders have to focus their primary skills. It's just a requirement to be successful. But that isn't a unique reason--skaters all have to work on Skating, Defense, and an offensive skill. What's unique is that goaltenders just have fewer skills to work with. That said, there are unique builds in the SHL that are successful. Aleister Cain has an especially cool build at the SHL level, and there's a real renaissance of SMJHL goaltending that's pushing the previous conception of goalie builds in new directions. The only thing that makes goalie builds boring is that we let them be boring by imitating without understanding. It's a really cool time to be a goaltender in this league, and the coming wave in build variety is a big part of that.

Quote:450ish words idk ready to grade

Grapehead · 06-24-2019, 10:20 PM

great piece grok, and really shedding some light on a few common misconceptions about goalie life.

ztevans · 06-24-2019, 11:08 PM

No discussion whatsoever on whether or not goalies are completely off their rocker, though.

Emiko · 06-24-2019, 11:22 PM

06-24-2019, 11:08 PMztevans Wrote: No discussion whatsoever on whether or not goalies are completely off their rocker, though.

Hey there, I haven't ever had a rocker... Why do you need to rub it in Cry

i can't even be off something i don't have one

grok · 06-24-2019, 11:23 PM

06-24-2019, 11:08 PMztevans Wrote: No discussion whatsoever on whether or not goalies are completely off their rocker, though.

Yeah this post is about myths

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